{ "id": "190242", "author": "26", "cnmid": "", "title": " 'Super Special' Allen Can Light Up Big Occasion For New Zealand", "lang": "en", "series": "685", "cup_year": "2026", "article_type": "General", "excerpt": "Opener Finn Allen has long been regarded as the hardest hitter of a cricket ball in New Zealand and his performance in taking his side to the T20 World Cup final showed just why. His record-breaking 3", "subtype": null, "editor1": "

Opener Finn Allen has long been regarded as the hardest hitter of a cricket ball in New Zealand and his performance in taking his side to the T20 World Cup final showed just why.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

His record-breaking 33-ball hundred, with eight sixes and 10 fours, in the semi-final took apart a high-class South Africa bowling attack in brutal fashion.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Allen obliterated the previous T20 World Cup century record of 47 balls by Chris Gayle in 2016 as New Zealand chased down 170 in just 12.5 overs on Wednesday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Now he and New Zealand are one more win away from their first T20 World Cup crown and believe they can beat anyone on their day.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

The strongly-built Allen is an imposing figure at the crease, evoking comparisons with the big Australian great Matthew Hayden.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"Matthew Hayden back in the day, he was big -- he intimidated bowlers by just his stance," former England captain Michael Vaughan said on cricbuzz.com.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"Graeme Smith had it for a while as well. I think Finn Allen does that.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"When he stands, as you run into bowl, you see this monster.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"The muscles and the tattoos are all there and you think: 'Oh God'! Brutal."<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"He could again go in the final", added Vaughan.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

The Auckland-born Allen gave a glimpse of his extraordinary talent only once earlier in the tournament -- an unbeaten 84 off 50 balls in a 10-wicket romp past the UAE in a group fixture.<\/p>\r\n\r\n


\r\n- 'World-class striking' -<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n

Allen reached his hundred against South Africa in the most belligerent style, crashing two fours, two sixes and another four off successive balls from Marco Jansen.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"Amazing hitting, world-class striking," New Zealand all-rounder Cole McConchie said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"He has been doing it for a long time and to do it on a big stage like that is super special for him and everyone's really proud of him."<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Allen, 26, made his debut in March 2021.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

In 2024, the world took notice of his power hitting after his 62-ball 137 laced with 16 sixes against Pakistan in a T20 in Dunedin.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

His unbeaten 100 at Eden Gardens was his third T20 international ton in 61 matches.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Perennial underdogs New Zealand edged into the semi-finals on net run rate but are seeking a first World Cup in either white-ball format.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

They will be up against defending champions India at Ahmedabad's 132,000-seater Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

A billion Indians will be watching elsewhere, but Allen said fans back home in New Zealand, with a population of 5.3 million, will also be throwing their weight behind their team.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"I think as a nation, hopefully everyone gets behind us and rallies around us for Sunday," he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"Hopefully they can get up and have a Monday off at work and watch the final.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Also Read: <\/b> Live Cricket Score<\/a><\/h5>

"I back us, we've got a lot of momentum going into the weekend. I think if we play our best cricket, we can beat anybody."<\/p>\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Finn-Allen-vs-SA2.jpg", "alt_img": " 'Super Special' Allen Can Light Up Big Occasion For New Zealand", "alt_title": " 'Super Special' Allen Can Light Up Big Occasion For New Zealand", "image1": null, "video": null, "seo_title": " 'Super Special' Allen Can Light Up Big Occasion For New Zealand On Cricketnmore", "seo_desc": "Opener Finn Allen has long been regarded as the hardest hitter of a cricket ball in New Zealand and his, 'Super Special' Allen Can Light Up Big Occasion For New Zealand.", "seo_keywords": "Finn Allen, ICC T20 World Cup 2026, India Vs New Zealand", "tag": null, "tagging": "Finn Allen,ICC T20 World Cup 2026,India Vs Zealand,", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": null, "slug": "super-special-allen-can-light-up-big-occasion-for-new-zealand", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "1", "ians_date": null, "ians_time": null, "server_time": null, "trash": "0", "view_count": "438", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "1", "created": "2026-03-07 14:35:45", "updated": "2026-03-07 14:35:45", "img_from": "Image Source: Google", "img_source": null, "schedule_publish": null, "news_keywords": "Finn Allen, ICC T20 World Cup 2026, India Vs New Zealand", "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "0", "google_feed": "0", "read_more": "1", "posted_by": "13", "jio_date": "2026-03-07 14:35:45", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "1", "breaking_news": "1", "google_date": null, "featured": "0", "pred_match_id": "Select", "article_content_type": null, "england_cricket": "0", "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/cricket-news\/super-special-allen-can-light-up-big-occasion-for-new-zealand-190242" }